To Skin a Cat

Again, this story will take me some time (hopefully not too much) and thank you for your patience. I must write this during down time at work, which makes for VERY short writing interludes. But enough of my problems...On to the next (sorry so short) chapter!

~Inamorati

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The Cheshire Cat knew he was asking for trouble. He reveled in the fact. It had been some time since his last, good, bloody fight. And this time he was going after one of the most powerful beings in Wonderland...second only to himself. The Cat knew he had been spotted, and indeed killed some of the Hatter's drones as taunts. And any time the Hatter sent out a hunting party for the feline, he was always ready for a good laugh. No man or beast could match the Cat in hunting. It was so easy to avoid the hunters, to disappear and walk right next to his would-be captors while they looked everywhere for him. And it was such fun to play tricks on the men before turning their own weapons against them, or swiping down a group with one powerful claw. The Cheshire Cat had been eating quite well since his arrival to the Hatter's domain, and he intended to stay as long as the free meals were being handed out.

This night was like any other. The Hatter hadn't been sending out hunting parties for a few days-probably the effect of a hard-learned lesson from all the bloodshed-so the Cat had to make due with a passing guard or drunken watchman as his sustenance. Still an easy meal.

As he neared the Hatter's asylum-esque lair the Cheshire Cat vanished bit by bit, until only his smile remained, and after a few more steps he disappeared completely. This near to the Hatter's the Cat had to watch for Boojums, special wraiths the Hatter used on his most hated enemies.
They swarmed his lair, and if they caught any scent or saw even the slightest flash of skin they attacked.

And they were ruthless.

They were the only hunters the Cat had ever taken the pains to be careful of. He had never come in direct contact with a Boojum, but he was smart enough to listen to the legends and heed the warnings about these mysterious ghouls. The Hatter was being extra cautious because of the Cat's killings, and had added these monsters only recently to protect his castle.

The Cat moved across the ground, silent.

He passed the twisted iron gates of the Hatter's lair and winced once when he heard a Boojum shriek in the distance.

It was their screaming that he couldn't stand.

As a cat and predator he loved absolute silence and the stillness of things. These Boojums stood for the destruction of everything the Cat took pleasure in. From the stories the Cheshire Cat had heard, a Boojum's weapon was its lungs. When it caught sight of an intruder it latched on to him and followed the poor victim everywhere, constantly shrieking, and eventually driving its captive stark raving mad. If you were especially hated, they were ordered to scream so loud that they might literally blow the skin off of you. Many of the victims who came raving to the towns with a Boojum behind them had large patches of skin missing, with twigs and mud and leaves caked to their wounds.
And so you would wander until the end of your life in constant pain.
If you were lucky enough to step near a cliff they might scream so loud as to knock you off the edge, and you would plunge to a painful, though quick, death.

It was a torture that reeked of the Hatter's imagining. Only he and the Red Queen could devise such beasts: It was rumored they had worked together on the Boojum's creation, before parting bitterly.

The Cheshire Cat spotted a wraith and bent low. Even invisible he was wary. He didn't know how well a Boojum could hear or smell.

But even in this state the Cat was at his prime.
He loved a good hunt, and the extra challenge provided by the Boojum was welcome. The Cat always loved a worthy obstacle. It made victory so much sweeter. The Cat promised himself that sometime soon he would catch one of those legendary creatures and leave its head for the Mad Hatter. How delicious the tall man's face would be, concluded the Cat.
He would present it as an 'unbirthday present.'

But something drew his attention.

Something in blue.

His Alice, standing idly in the doorway to the Hatter's. She had her vorpal blade in one hand, and a deadly pack of cards in the other. And she was swaying back and forth from tiptoe to heel as she was so prone to doing. The Cat drew closer, but her back was turned and he couldn't catch a glimpse of her face. 'Trick,' his mind immediately sounded, as he began to creep towards her.

He was near enough to hear her voice.

She was humming. Humming that strange, familiar tune that was ominously sounded throughout the White Queen's village.

But how could she be here?
And why?
And why without him?

The Cat kicked a rock towards her. It rolled past her foot, unnoticed by the girl. Almost instantly at the sound of the rock tumbling across the ground a Boojum was there beside Alice. It lurked around her, but oddly kept its distance, keeping a watchful eye on her blade and deck of cards. Had she run into one before? Maybe she had taught it a very violent lesson? Alice didn't hesitate, but kept swaying back and forth, humming. Without showing any sign of a threat towards Alice the Boojum left, uninterested, and drifted into the air.

Perhaps now that the Boojum had seen Alice, and for whatever reason ignored her, it wouldn't bother them again. The Cat waited for the monster to disappear completely before making another sound.

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So short! They are always so short! And I am so sorry! But I hope you still enjoy it! I shall try to update as soon as possible. Ta.